McCrory aide lays out strategy to fight N.C. jobs war

Tony Almeida (left), the governor's senior adviser for jobs and the economy, chats with David Hartness at a luncheon hosted by the local chapter of the N.C. World Trade Association at the Cape Fear Country Club on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. Also pictured (center) is John Reed, waiting to speak with Almeida.

Published: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 4:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 4:32 p.m.

North Carolina is in a jobs war, a top aide to Gov. Pat McCrory told a gathering Tuesday of the Cape Fear Chapter of the N.C. World Trade Association.

Tony Almeida, the governor's senior adviser for jobs and the economy, recited dismal figures to the luncheon crowd at the Cape Fear Country Club.

The statewide unemployment rate of 9.4 percent is “woefully unacceptable,” and nearly one in five North Carolinians are underemployed – working beneath their skills or not looking for work at all. More importantly – and “the true measure of the prosperity of our people” – the state ranks 37th in the country in per capita income, Almeida said.

“We lost 300,000 jobs in the Great Recession and our labor force actually increased,” he said.

Almeida, who spent 32 years at Duke Energy, including as vice president for economic development, outlined “a new blueprint for economic development” put forth by the McCrory administration, and laid out the priorities.

Tax reform: Almeida called tax reform an “evolutionary” reform of corporate and personal income taxes that are uncompetitive with other Southeastern states.

“In the next several weeks we will offer a plan to reduce those tax rates over four years by eliminating loopholes and closing some tax exemptions,” he said.

Regulatory reform: Almeida said that in the last 10 years North Carolina created 15,000 new regulations – more than all the other Southeastern states put together.

He pointed to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and said, “We will be about helping businesses navigate the permitting process and making it more customer-focused.”

Almeida also said, “We have to continue to look at workers compensation, tort reform and maintaining our right-to-work abilities.”

Education: Almeida emphasized the need to bridge the disconnect between high unemployment and the inability of businesses to find qualified workers.

He said high schools would offer a two-path approach – college and vocational – so businesses can find the machinists, plumbers and computer technicians they need.

Small business: “The process for starting a business is way too complex compared to other states,” Almeida said. Virginia, he said, has a one-stop website where business people can learn what they need to do to get licenses and permits.

Almeida said North Carolina would have a one-stop system in place by the end of the year.

Agribusiness: He said North Carolina's $77 billion agriculture industry can be driven up to $100 billion.

Almeida cited as an example a 75,000-square-foot facility that is planned at the Port of Wilmington that would provide cold storage for products such as fruit, vegetables and meat.

“We've got to look at tax policies that will bring more venture capital here,” he said.

Energy: He said the state should move ahead with hydraulic fracturing and that North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina are collaborating to develop offshore energy assets.

Military: Almeida said that in the face of military cuts, “We think we've got an opportunity to take advantage of consolidation of troop assets into N.C. bases.”

After the talk, Almeida was asked how incentives figure in the state's economic plans.

“Incentives don't make a bad deal good, but can help differentiate the state when it comes to recruiting businesses and industry to the state,” he said.

On film incentives, which have been questioned by some, Almeida said, “We're constantly looking at the return on investment for the film incentives and analyze those and look at the numbers. What are the economics of the result? That needs to drive policy.”

<p>North Carolina is in a jobs war, a top aide to Gov. Pat McCrory told a gathering Tuesday of the Cape Fear Chapter of the N.C. World Trade Association.</p><p>Tony Almeida, the governor's senior adviser for jobs and the economy, recited dismal figures to the luncheon crowd at the Cape Fear Country Club.</p><p>The statewide unemployment rate of 9.4 percent is “woefully unacceptable,” and nearly one in five North Carolinians are underemployed – working beneath their skills or not looking for work at all. More importantly – and “the true measure of the prosperity of our people” – the state ranks 37th in the country in per capita income, Almeida said.</p><p>“We lost 300,000 jobs in the Great Recession and our labor force actually increased,” he said.</p><p>Almeida, who spent 32 years at Duke Energy, including as vice president for economic development, outlined “a new blueprint for economic development” put forth by the McCrory administration, and laid out the priorities.</p><p>Tax reform: Almeida called tax reform an “evolutionary” reform of corporate and personal income taxes that are uncompetitive with other Southeastern states.</p><p>“In the next several weeks we will offer a plan to reduce those tax rates over four years by eliminating loopholes and closing some tax exemptions,” he said.</p><p>Regulatory reform: Almeida said that in the last 10 years North Carolina created 15,000 new regulations – more than all the other Southeastern states put together. </p><p>He pointed to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and said, “We will be about helping businesses navigate the permitting process and making it more customer-focused.”</p><p>Almeida also said, “We have to continue to look at workers compensation, tort reform and maintaining our right-to-work abilities.”</p><p>Education: Almeida emphasized the need to bridge the disconnect between high unemployment and the inability of businesses to find qualified workers.</p><p>He said high schools would offer a two-path approach – college and vocational – so businesses can find the machinists, plumbers and computer technicians they need.</p><p>Small business: “The process for starting a business is way too complex compared to other states,” Almeida said. Virginia, he said, has a one-stop website where business people can learn what they need to do to get licenses and permits. </p><p>Almeida said North Carolina would have a one-stop system in place by the end of the year.</p><p>Agribusiness: He said North Carolina's $77 billion agriculture industry can be driven up to $100 billion. </p><p>Almeida cited as an example a 75,000-square-foot facility that is planned at the Port of Wilmington that would provide cold storage for products such as fruit, vegetables and meat.</p><p>Venture capital: Almeida said North Carolina ranks 17th in venture capital deals.</p><p>“We've got to look at tax policies that will bring more venture capital here,” he said.</p><p>Energy: He said the state should move ahead with hydraulic fracturing and that North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina are collaborating to develop offshore energy assets.</p><p>Military: Almeida said that in the face of military cuts, “We think we've got an opportunity to take advantage of consolidation of troop assets into N.C. bases.”</p><p>After the talk, Almeida was asked how incentives figure in the state's economic plans.</p><p>“Incentives don't make a bad deal good, but can help differentiate the state when it comes to recruiting businesses and industry to the state,” he said.</p><p>On film incentives, which have been questioned by some, Almeida said, “We're constantly looking at the return on investment for the film incentives and analyze those and look at the numbers. What are the economics of the result? That needs to drive policy.”</p><p><i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic99"><b>Wayne Faulkner</b></a>: 343-2329</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @bizniznews</i></p>